With Every Ghost I'm Looking Through

The first time I saw Ra Ra Riot I was in Seattle with my friend Kerri. I had jumped at the opportunity to travel to the city I had always dreamed I would end up someday and when she found out the band was playing a show nearby we procured tickets and showed up early.

Their songwriting is not complex. Like any good pop singer, frontman Wes Miles is easy to understand with his crisp clear delivery and a sincere presence that makes you like the band instantly. The band started off with golden promise first appearing at SXSW in spring of 2007 and haven't looked back since. They have overcome the loss of a bandmate and beloved friend, John Ryan Pike and poured their sadness and love into their tour and each other. Seeing them live is enjoying one cohesive movement of joy.

Ra Ra Riot "Keep It Quiet" (Preview) from Barsuk Records on Vimeo.

When I heard news of their upcoming record, Orchard due out next week on August 24th via Barsuk Records I excited at what the first single would sound like. "Boy" slowly sparked up on the blogs along with a beautiful EPK full of summer and sunshine as their tour dates were announced with Louisana's Givers.

The video for "Boy" appears to have debuted on MTV and the band definitely looks like it is trying to gain that audience with their whole aesthetic. Whatever helps them sell tickets and continue to write good music works for me.

Ra Ra Riot - New Music - More Music Videos

I am still a huge fan of "Can You Tell." Check out their video here:

Ra Ra Riot - New Music - More Music Videos

****Ra Ra Riot Tour Dates***
AUGUST:
8/24--Stripped Down In-Store Session @ Sound Fix Records--Brooklyn, NY
8/24--Record Release Party @ Brooklyn Bowl--Brooklyn, NY
8/27--Funk 'n Waffles--Syracuse, NY
8/28--Molson Canadian Amphitheater w/ Tegan & Sara & City and Colour--Toronto, Ontario
SEPTEMBER
9/5--Bumbershoot Festival @ The Seattle Center--Seattle, WA
9/9--Northwest MusicFest--Portland, OR
9/12--End of the Road Festival @ Larmer Tree Gardens--Salisbury, Wilts, UNITED KINGDOM
9/18--The Cracker Factory--Geneva, NY
9/21--Bowery Ballroom--New York, NY
9/22--Bowery Ballroom w/ Lower Dens--New York, NY
9/23--Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ North Highlands and We Barbarians--Brooklyn, NY
9/24--Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Anamanaguchi--Brooklyn, NY
9/27--Pearl Street--Northampton, MA
9/28--Toad's Place--New Haven, CT
9/29--The Met--Providence, RI
OCTOBER
10/1--Royale--Boston, MA
10/2--Trocadero--Philadelphia, PA
10/3--Diesel--Pittsburg, PA
10/4-Blind Pig--Ann Arbor, Michigan
10/5--Metro--Chicago, IL
10/7--Varsity Theatre--Minneapolis, MN
10/8--Waiting Room--Omaha, Nebraska
10/9--The Granada Theatre--Lawrence, KS
10/11--Bluebird Theatre--Denver, CO
10/12--In The Venue--Salt Lake City, UT
10/13--Crystal Bay Club--Crystal Bay, Nevada
10/17--Treasure Island Festival--San Francisco, CA
10/19--Glass House--Pomona, CA
10/20--The Music Box--Los Angeles, CA
10/21--Belly Up Tavern--Solana Beach, CA
10/22--The Clubhouse--Tempe, AZ
10/24--White Rabbit--San Antonio, TX
10/26--Emo's--Austin, TX
10/27--Warehouse Live--Houston, TX
10/28--Granada Theatre--Dallas, TX
10/29--Rev Room--Little Rock, AR
10/30--EXIT/IN--Nashville, TN
NOVEMBER
11/1--WorkPlay Theatre--Birmingham, AL
11/2--Masquerade--Atlanta, GA
11/3--Orange Peel--Asheville, NC
11/4--Cat's Cradle--Carrboro, NC
11/5--9:30 Club--Washington, DC
CANADIAN TOUR (All Dates with Wintersleep)
11/13--The Commodore--Vancouver
11/17--MacEwan Hall--Calgary
11/19--Louis' Pub--Saskatoon
11/20--The Garrick Centre--Winnipeg

Head over to NPR to hear The Orchard in full right now.


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